Marquette Soccer Takes on SLU in First Road Test

MILWAUKEE – Marquette made it two-straight wins to open the season after a convincing 4-0 result at home against Central Arkansas on Thursday and now own a +6 goal differential through two games. The Golden Eagles will head on the road for their first away match of the season against Saint Louis on Tuesday.

Marquette has climbed all the way up to No. 12 in this week's Top Drawer Soccer Top-25 rankings after its previous win that featured four sensational goals by Martin Alba (4'), Lukas Sunesson (11'), Connor Alba (62') and Patrick Seagrist (74'). Sunesson, who landed on last week's BIG EAST Honor Roll, scored his league-leading third goal of the season. For Martin Alba, it was the defensive midfielder's first of his career.

On Monday, Luis Barraza was named the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week after capturing his seventh career shutout with a six-save performance. It was his third career BIG EAST weekly award.

On Tuesday, the Golden Eagles will be seeking their first-ever win at Saint Louis in a series that dates back to 1964.

WHERE TO WATCH/FOLLOW THE ACTION

STREAM: ESPN+ (Subscription-based)
LIVE STATS: SLUBillikens.com
TICKETS: GoMarquette.com/tickets (Next game: Friday, Sept. 7 vs. Penn)

OPPONENT FORM

SAINT LOUIS (7-9-1, 4-4-0 A10 in 2017)
The Billikens enter Tuesday night with an 0-1-1 record after season-opening 1-1 draw at No. 17 Notre Dame in which Anthony Brown scored with 16 seconds remaining in regulation, and a narrow 2-1 setback at home to Memphis. The team's scheduled away match at No. 9 Louisville was cancelled on Friday due to severe weather.

SLU returns the services of First Team All-A10 selection, senior defender Lennart Hein, who led the team with five goals last year, including his game-winner at Valley Fields and by converting all four of his penalty attempts. SLU is guided by first-year head coach Kevin Kalish in 2018. Last year, the Billikens scored 19 goals while surrendering 28.
WHAT THE TEAM IS SAYING
Bennett on the adjustments made vs. Central Arkansas: We were very disciplined. I thought everyone did a very good job. Four different people scoring and I thought we created a lot of chances. The game of soccer, very rarely does the other team not get any chances. I would say they got a couple "half-chances".

Bennett on how Wegner and Coan stepped up: I'm really happy. We had to make two changes through injuries. Credit to people who played out of position. Zak Wegner has played as a "six" and a right back. Josh Coan, who had not started, played 90 minutes.

Barraza on looking ahead to Saint Louis: It's always tough going away. We've been to Saint Louis before and it's not an easy atmosphere to play in, but we're definitely going to put in the work like we did for (Central Arkansas) and hopefully getting another shutout and a win.

#MARQUETTESOCCER PROJECTED STARTING XI

(4-3-3): Luis Barraza, Zak Wegner, Leo Villa, Josh Hancock, Patrick Seagrist, Ruben Sanchez, Martin Alba, Luka Prpa, Connor Alba, Josh Coan, Lukas Sunesson
* Based on previous game

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• All-Time Series: Tuesday marks the 27th meeting between the Golden Eagles and Billikens in a series that dates all the way back to Marquette's first season in 1964. SLU holds a 21-3-2 edge in the series and has yet to lose a match at home to MU. The Golden Eagles salvaged a 1-1 draw in St. Louis back in 2016, the first match in 12 years between both sides. In last season's meeting at Valley Fields, the Golden Eagles appeared the better team, but was unable to finish at the net. SLU earned a penalty in the 72' and Lennart Hein buried it to give the Billikens the win.

• #SquadGoals: The seven goals scored in the team's first two games are the most since the 1993 squad netted 10 against Valparaiso (7-0) and Western Illinois (3-1). That same squad scored five in their next game for a three-game total of 15. They would finish the year 13-5-3 and with 41 goals, the eighth-most in program history.

• Off to a Fast Start: The Golden Eagles are 2-0 to open the season for the first time since 2012 when they started the year 12-0-0 and rose to its highest-ever ranking (No. 2) en route to an NCAA tournament appearance and program record 16 victories.

• Climbing the Ranks: The Golden Eagles picked up their first national ranking since 2014 when they debuted at No. 22 in the Top Drawer Soccer Top-25 rankings last week. Marquette rose 10 spots to No. 12 after Thursday's win. MU is also receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches' Poll, which is released on Tuesday's. They are one of five teams either ranked or receiving votes in the USC Poll: Butler (No. 11), Creighton (No. 20), Georgetown (rv), Xavier (rv).

• Marquette United: Head coach Louis Bennett and his staff continue to attract talent from all over the world as evidenced by the host of international representation on the roster. This year's roster features players from England, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden, as well as eight different states.

Keep up with the Marquette men's soccer program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteSoccer) and Instagram (@MarquetteSoccer) and `liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteSoccer).